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Ace Bailey ROY watch

I think part of the blame should be put on Hardy. He still did not find any players that he can reliably pair Ace with to multiply their strengths. He did for other players: Cody and Harkless for defense, WCJ with Nurk and, at the end of the games, Keyonte for extraplaymaking... But Ace is still kinda left on an island without a clear role and players he is vibing with. Coaches need to put him into the situation where he can leverage his strengths and feel that he is a valuable contributor. That has not happened yet.

Weirdly, I feel that Hardy accommodates Svi and Nurk more than such a crucial prospect as Bailey.
 
jazznik said:
I think part of the blame should be put on Hardy. He still did not find any players that he can reliably pair Ace with to multiply their strengths. He did for other players: Cody and Harkless for defense, WCJ with Nurk and, at the end of the games, Keyonte for extraplaymaking... But Ace is still kinda left on an island without a clear role and players he is vibing with. Coaches need to put him into the situation where he can leverage his strengths and feel that he is a valuable contributor. That has not happened yet.

Weirdly, I feel that Hardy accommodates Svi and Nurk more than such a crucial prospect as Bailey.
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We have like 4000 PFs on the roster and almost no playmakers, it's kind of a roster problem more than anything.
 
jazznik said:
I think part of the blame should be put on Hardy. He still did not find any players that he can reliably pair Ace with to multiply their strengths. He did for other players: Cody and Harkless for defense, WCJ with Nurk and, at the end of the games, Keyonte for extraplaymaking... But Ace is still kinda left on an island without a clear role and players he is vibing with. Coaches need to put him into the situation where he can leverage his strengths and feel that he is a valuable contributor. That has not happened yet.

Weirdly, I feel that Hardy accommodates Svi and Nurk more than such a crucial prospect as Bailey.
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It's Hardy's fault a raw skinny extremely young 19 year old (just turned in August) is struggling in the NBA is quite a take.
 
Kid's playing with a team with no clear north, playing no particular scheme, puzzling with lineups, no floor general... at the moment Bailey just doesn't fit whatever the Jazz are trying to do on court.
That said, I don't know if Hardy is trying to do something organized, planned. If he is I cannot distinguish it right now.
Still need to watch a lot more games to try to get an idea about Bailey.
 
I can see how you’d be really disappointed in Ace if bought into the iso ball, baby Kevin Durant kind of stuff. I never really believed in that translating, but it liked him as a blank slate kind of prospect. He needs to lean into what his strengths are, and right now that’s just his physical tools.

As a prospect he’s more like Jaden McDaniels than KD, TMac, or whatever other all time great people were throwing around. But don’t listen to me because I am someone who likes to think about prospects.
 
KqWIN said:
I can see how you’d be really disappointed in Ace if bought into the iso ball, baby Kevin Durant kind of stuff. I never really believed in that translating, but it liked him as a blank slate kind of prospect. He needs to lean into what his strengths are, and right now that’s just his physical tools.
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Yeah... you just don't draft a blank slate at #5 unless you see generational raw talent.

And Ace's physical tools are OK, but nothing special for the NBA.
 
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Tremendous Upside said:
Yeah... you just don't draft a blank slate at #5 unless you see generational raw talent.

And Ace's physical tools are OK, but nothing special for the NBA.
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Drafting random blank slates at #5 is very common, lol

#5 picks over time

2025: Ace Bailey
2024: Ron Holland
2023: Ausar Thompson
2022: Jaden Ivey
2021: Jalen Suggs*
2020: Isaac Okoro
2019: Darius Garland (only played 6 games in college)
2018: Trae Young*
2017: De'Aaron Fox*
2016: Kris Dunn
2015: Mario Hezonja
2014: Dante Exum
2013: Alex Len
2012: Thomas Robinson*
2011: Jonas Valanciunas

Outside of the four guys with an asterisk, every #5 pick since the 2011 draft has been a random dice throw with an unclear role in the NBA.

Ace will probably end up being Michael Porter Jr, but like... That's fine for this point in the draft. Getting a #4 guy is pretty common here.
 
I see the MPJ comparison more now than during the draft cycle, but I still don’t like it. He’s doing similar things like moving off the ball, but MPJ has always been an elite shooter. Ace was not the most amazing shooting prospect, and if we’re being honest about the numbers you could call him a bad shooting prospect. I would be shocked if he’s as good as MPJ at shooting, but hopefully he can make up for it on defense and potentially do more with the ball in the future.

Biggest thing about Ace is that he needs to change/learn. That’s why I call him a blank slate prospect. He has attributes, but nothing has materialized yet and why would it. We’re 6 games in.
 
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KqWIN said:
I see the MPJ comparison more now than during the draft cycle, but I still don’t like it. He’s doing similar things like moving off the ball, but MPJ has always been an elite shooter. Ace was not the most amazing shooting prospect, and if we’re being honest about the numbers you could call him a bad shooting prospect. I would be shocked if he’s as good as MPJ at shooting, but hopefully he can make up for it on defense and potentially do more with the ball in the future.

It’s just kinda funny be be like “you can’t draft that at 5”. What are we talking about, the first pick in the draft? An average starter is probably like medium outcome for a 5th pick.
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Ace's shooting is really good when he shoots his normal shot, but he ****s up his shooting motion constantly to try to get shots off. He shoots it differently all the time.

MPJ's entire career up until this year has had him taking almost uncontested jumpshots because he was playing with the best offensive player of all time other than MJ.
 
I think Ace would do better if he was on the court slashing around Key and Lauri with Kessler helping on D.

I also think Hardy has a locker room FULL of guys who have waited their turn and he would lose guys if he gave the starting minutes to a guy who isnt ready.

Having said that, Ace will get his chance when Svi has a tweak or with more losses. If I am Hardy I am biding my time until Ace is ready and the situation allows me to swap him in without pissing everyone off.

It may be December but when it happens it will help him open up his game.
 
Ace has to improve his 3 game. No question. His midrange is solid. He also needs to attack the rim more.

I like Ace setting up better shots. It isnt perfect but he has had plenty of great moments.

Remember Collier who SUCKED last year but got a chance and improved month after month until he was the starter?
 
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